Anyone who is having troubles should pray … When a believing person prays, great things happen. James 5: 13, 16 b (NCV) [i]
I do believe in prayer. I pray. But. Do I believe God is going to give me what I ask for just because I prayed? Rather an arrogant attitude, isn’t it? Who am I to tell God what to do? Yet, the verse above, written by God’s inspiration in the Holy Bible says, if we believe and pray, great things will happen. Often people will claim they’ve had “answers to their prayers,” meaning God did whatever they had asked Him to do the way they thought He should.
What if our prayers seem to hit a leaden sky? What if the opposite happens from what we asked? What if we never learn the end results? What if I’m not really on praying ground because I lack a true trust in God as sovereign? What if I have sins in my own heart—sins of commission—sins of omission? What if a “no” answer is what would ultimately bring God the glory?
It is not uncommon for all of us to struggle with these questions. (I’m glad I’m not God! The world is in enough trouble without me being in charge.)
There are many definitions of prayer one might find in books and on the Internet. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association gives a good definition:
“Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.[ii]”
So, in my communication with a sovereign, omniscient God, I must have faith that not only is He able, He is also the supreme Ruler of all things, and He knows the end from the beginning. What I ask for may be outright opposed to God’s purpose for the universe, for his Kingdom, for the individual or situation I put before Him.
Since prayer is a two-way communication, then I need to know what God has said. We find the answers in the Bible. What does God expect of me? What does He expect of me before I pray?
In the Bible He tells me to have faith. The prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well … vs. 15
Faith in what?
If I ask, He will give me what I want? No.
He can do as I ask? Of course, but …
He will do what brings Him glory? Absolutely.
The Scripture goes on to say we are to come to Him with a clean heart—“fessed up,” as the saying goes. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. (vs 16 a).
How dare we ask God to heal, save, give, take away, come, go, or anything else, if known sin is in our lives! Too, before we present our pleas, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sin. (Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.) Psalm 19: 12 ESV[iii]
None of us can “fix” anything. We do try, however, and when our fixes fail, we plead with God, thinking we can change the trajectory of His plan. No, we, with faith in Him to do His perfect will, relinquish our self, our sins, and our self-sufficiency, and hand our prayers into His hands.
Prayer is agreeing with God.
Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises. Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the person in the name of the Lord. And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! Then Elijah prayed again, and the rain came down from the sky, and the land produced crops again for three and a half years! Then Elijah prayed again, and the rain came down from the sky, and the land produced crops again.
(James 5: 14-18 NCV)
[i] James 5: 13, 16 NCV – The Power of Prayer – Anyone who is – Bible Gateway
[ii] billygraham.org.uk/answer/what-is-prayer/
[iii] Psalm 19 ESV – The Law of the LORD Is Perfect – To the – Bible Gateway
